Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Chicago - February 12, 2014


We checked out of the Palmer House, walked to Union Station, and left our bags there in the Metropolitan Lounge.  We spent a few hours walking around downtown, but it finally got too cold and we returned to the station. 





















Upon our return, we learned that the 97 train, the one we were planning to take from D.C to Ft. Lauderdale, was cancelled due to bad weather.  We could still get to D.C., but there was no guarantee that we'd make it to Florida in time for the cruise.  So we decided that our best option was to rent a car and drive to Ft. Lauderdale.  There was another couple, from Alberta, in the same predicament.  They opted to fly.  After about an hour, the Amtrak agent was able to find a flight for them.  They flew to Las Vegas, stayed overnight, and then flew to Ft. Lauderdale.  For $1000 apiece.  Our car rental was $850.  It was estimated to take 20 hours.  We had two days.  But now there was another problem.  Our two large bags, the ones containing our formal clothes and warm weather clothes, had been sent ahead of us to Washington.  The passenger services representative called Washington to see if they were there, and they were.  They agreed to send them by FedEx overnight to the Ft. Lauderdale Amtrak station.  They would arrive the next morning, well ahead of us. 

The only car we could get was a Jeep Patriot.  So after having dinner we set out at 7:15 for points south.  We drove until 9:30 and spent the night in Lafayette, Indiana.  



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